The 1972 Miami Dolphins can turn their attention to two teams.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings were the only franchises to make it through September unscathed and stand at 4-0.
Kansas City is off and running in its chase for a third straight Super Bowl, though the team has not exhibited much dominance. The team has won its four games thus far by a combined 20 points, most recently beating the Los Angeles Chargers 17-10 on the road.
Minnesota, meanwhile, has been one of the biggest surprises of the early 2024 season. Sam Darnold leads the NFL with 11 passing touchdowns through four weeks, and the Vikings followed up their Week 1 drubbing of the New York Giants with three straight wins over teams that made last year's playoffs.
Get top local stories in San Diego delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC San Diego's News Headlines newsletter.
While the Chiefs and Vikings are off to strong starts, their kind of early regular season success has not translated into a championship in nearly two decades. The 2006 Indianapolis Colts were the last team to hold the title of last undefeated team and win the Super Bowl in the same season.
It's been especially tough over the last 10 seasons. Five teams went on to lose the Super Bowl, but no other teams with the "last undefeated" title made it to the divisional round.
| Year | Team | Started | Finished |
| 2023 | Philadelphia Eagles | 5-0 | 11-6; lost wild card round |
| 2023 | San Francisco 49ers | 5-0 | 12-5; lost Super Bowl |
| 2022 | Philadelphia Eagles | 8-0 | 14-3; lost Super Bowl |
| 2021 | Arizona Cardinals | 7-0 | 11-6; lost wild card round |
| 2020 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 11-0 | 12-4; lost wild card round |
| 2019 | San Francisco 49ers | 8-0 | 13-3; lost Super Bowl |
| 2019 | New England Patriots | 8-0 | 12-4; lost wild card round |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Rams | 8-0 | 13-3; lost Super Bowl |
| 2017 | Kansas City Chiefs | 5-0 | 10-6; lost wild card round |
| 2016 | Minnesota Vikings | 5-0 | 8-8; missed playoffs |
| 2015 | Carolina Panthers | 14-0 | 15-1; lost Super Bowl |
| 2014 | Philadelphia Eagles | 3-0 | 10-6; missed playoffs |
| 2014 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-0 | 10-5-1; lost wild card |
| 2014 | Arizona Cardinals | 3-0 | 11-5; lost wild card |
Which team will earn the title of last undefeated team in 2024? And does anyone have a chance to join the 1972 Dolphins and 2007 New England Patriots as the only teams to complete a perfect regular season?
Let's examine the outlook for the Chiefs and Vikings.
Kansas City Chiefs' upcoming schedule
The Chiefs have already been in the primetime spotlight twice this season, and that's not slowing down anytime soon. The team has six more standalone games on its schedule, including two Monday Night Football matchups and an afternoon Christmas Day game.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champs will play on Monday Night Football in Week 5 before heading into their bye. From there, they will play perhaps their toughest game of the season, as they will hit the road to play the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowl LVIII.
Entering Week 5, the Chiefs have the 10th-hardest remaining schedule in the NFL.
- Week 5: vs. New Orleans Saints (Monday Night Football)
- Week 6: Bye
- Week 7: at San Francisco 49ers
- Week 8: at Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Monday Night Football)
- Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos
- Week 11: at Buffalo Bills
Minnesota Vikings' upcoming schedule
The Vikings are taking their undefeated record across the Atlantic for Week 5.
The team will face the New York Jets in London before heading on its bye. From there, Minnesota will return home to host the Detroit Lions before visiting the Los Angeles Rams on a short week. The team also has an unusual three-game road trip in November.
The Vikings could very well lose one -- or both -- of their next two games, but when it comes to their overall playoff hopes, they have the sixth-easiest schedule the rest of the way.
- Week 5: vs. New York Jets (in London)
- Week 6: Bye
- Week 7: vs. Detroit Lions
- Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams (Thursday Night Football)
- Week 9: vs. Indianapolis Colts
- Week 10: at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 11: at Tennessee Titans
